CONRAIL’S CAST-OFF COMMUTERS: 3 30 YEARS OF SEPTA
ABOVE: A train departs Market East Station in Philadelphia. STEVE BARRY PHOTO LEFT: A westbound SEPTA train rolls thru Bryn Mawr with ALP44 2308 in charge on April 30, 2003. These push-pull sets only operate during rush hours.
phase of RailWorks accomplished quite a bit of work with twelve bridges re- placed, three bridges rebuilt, a new in- terlocking constructed at 16th Street, and new stations built at Temple and North Broad.
to service Temple University (featuring two center island platforms) and a new station at North Broad Street. The project was to take place in two phases in the summer of 1992 and again in the summer of 1993. While the RailWorks construction was underway, service would be suspended and passengers would need to transfer to the Broad Street Subway at Fern Rock to contin- ue to Center City. A new station was opened in March 1992 to facilitate eas-
ier transfer between the subway and rail lines. Trains from the old PRR side would continue to serve Market East station and make reverse moves in the tunnel.
After much prodding from various
groups including the Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers, SEPTA did manage to provide two round trip diesel-hauled trains between Fox Chase and 30th Street via a non-elec- trified Conrail trackage. The first
RailWorks II was the 1993 continua- tion of the project between May 2 and September 5, 1993. SEPTA operated two diesel-powered round trips each weekday between Doylestown and 30th Street and West Trenton and 30th Street operating over Conrail tracks between Newtown Junction and “Zoo” tower utilizing leased three surplus U34CH locomotives from NJ Transit. The continuation of the bridge replace- ment and repair continued along with welded rail replacement south of Broad Street Station and completing the new Temple station.
While commuters had to suffer for
two summers with lengthened com- mutes the project managed to be com- pleted on time and well below budget.
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